Social media spells end of Sheffield school old boys’ social club

A Sheffield old boys club is closing its doors after more than a century – blaming its demise on the rise of social media.

The Old Centralians Association – for former pupils of the old Sheffield Central Secondary School in the city centre and High Storrs School in Ecclesall – was set up in 1892 and was seen as key for alumni to keep in touch.

However, an association spokesman said in recent years dinners and its annual ball have lost favour ‘as more students moved away’.

Ian Gage, High Storrs headteacher and association honorary president, said: “Former students seem to keep in touch through social media nowadays.

“Despite our attempts to persuade school leavers to join the association, it isn’t something they associate with until they are getting older, long after their schooldays have ended.”

David France, a former High Storrs boy who left in 1958 and who proposed the motion for dissolution at the association’s annual general meeting says “Fortunately High Storrs School today has a positive approach to social media and staff are keen to maintain their own register of alumni, so it is going to be relatively easy to keep in touch with former pupils by electronic means.

“I will be sending out periodic newsletters with gossip and obituaries and that sort of thing but it is a sad day, all the same.”

Alumnni of the schools include squash world champion Nick Matthew, TV presenter Jessica-Jane Clement and former Sheffield United footballers Jack Lester and England international Kyle Walker.